Dual-range wireless interactive entertainment device

Abstract

A method of interactive game play is provided wherein a seemingly magical wand toy is provided for enabling a trained user to electronically send and receive information to and from other wand toys, a master system and/or to actuate various play effects within a play environment. The toy wand or other seemingly magical object is configured to use a send/received radio frequency communications protocol which provides a basic foundation for a complex, interactive entertainment system to create a seemingly magical interactive play experience.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless toy for amusing or entertaining a game participant playing an interactive game within a wireless-compatible play environment, said wireless toy comprising:
 a portable body comprising an internal cavity configured to accommodate one or more batteries and associated electronics configured to power and operate said wireless toy; 
 a microprocessor and associated non-volatile programmable memory configured to store game-relevant information; 
 a short-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a first wireless-compatible device over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm and wherein said short-range wireless communication includes communication of a first selection of game-relevant information from said wireless toy to said first wireless-compatible device; and 
 a medium-range transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit a unique identification number to a second wireless-compatible device over a communication range greater than 10 feet and wherein said unique identification number is configured to uniquely identify said wireless toy within said game. 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless toy of  claim 1 , wherein said portable body is configured to be held or worn by said game participant. 
     
     
       3. The wireless toy of  claim 1 , wherein said portable body comprises a housing shaped in the form of a toy wand and further comprising motion- or position-sensitive circuitry configured to enable said toy wand to be operated by said game participant at least in part by moving said portable body in free space to wirelessly activate or control one or more effects associated with said interactive game. 
     
     
       4. The wireless toy of  claim 1 , further comprising an antenna configured to receive energy from an external energy source through inductive coupling and to supply said energy to power said short-range RF transceiver. 
     
     
       5. The wireless toy of  claim 1 , wherein said short-range RF transceiver is configured to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with said first wireless-compatible device over a limited communication range of less than 25 cm, wherein said short-range two-way wireless communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling, and wherein said short-range wireless communication includes communication of a second selection of game-relevant information from said first wireless-compatible device to said wireless toy. 
     
     
       6. The wireless toy of  claim 1 , wherein said medium-range transmitter is selected from the group consisting of an RF transmitter and an infrared transmitter and wherein said medium-range transmitter is powered by said one or more batteries. 
     
     
       7. The wireless toy of  claim 1 , in combination with said first wireless-compatible device and wherein said first wireless-compatible device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. 
     
     
       8. A wireless gaming device for entertaining one or more game participants playing a computer-animated game on a wireless-compatible computer gaming platform or home game console, said gaming device comprising:
 a portable body comprising an internal cavity configured to hold one or more batteries and associated electronics configured to power and operate said gaming device; 
 non-volatile memory storing a unique identifier configured to uniquely identify said gaming device within said game; 
 a short-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a first wireless-compatible device over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm and wherein said short-range wireless communication includes communication of at least a first selection of game-relevant information from said gaming device to said first wireless-compatible device; and 
 a medium-range RF transceiver configured to provide medium-range two-way wireless communication with a second wireless-compatible device over a communication range greater than 10 feet and wherein said medium-range wireless communication includes communication of at least a second selection of game-relevant information from said gaming device to said second wireless-compatible device. 
 
     
     
       9. The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein said portable body is configured to be held and moved freely in the air and wherein said gaming device further comprises motion- or position-sensitive circuitry configured to enable said gaming device to be operated by a game participant at least in part by moving said portable body in free space to wirelessly activate or control one or more effects associated with said game. 
     
     
       10. The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein said short-range RF transceiver is configured to provide two-way wireless communication with said first wireless-compatible device over a limited communication range of less than 25 cm and wherein said short-range two-way wireless communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling. 
     
     
       11. The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein said first or second selection of game-relevant information comprises one or more items of information selected from the following group: said unique identifier, a tracking identifier uniquely associated with a particular game participant, the name of said particular game participant, the age of said particular game participant, the rank or level of said particular game participant within said game, points accumulated by said particular game participant in said game, tasks completed by said particular game participant in said game, attributes of a game character played by said particular game participant in said game, and facilities visited by said particular game participant. 
     
     
       12. The gaming device of  claim 8 , in combination with said first wireless-compatible device and wherein said first wireless-compatible device is selected from the group consisting of: an RFID transponder, an RFID reader, and an RFID reader/writer. 
     
     
       13. The gaming device of  claim 8 , in combination with an image capture system configured to capture one or more digital images of a game participant playing said game using said gaming device. 
     
     
       14. The gaming device of  claim 8 , further comprising a display screen configured to display game-relevant information based on one or more wireless communications received by said medium-range RF transceiver. 
     
     
       15. The gaming device of  claim 8 , further comprising an effects generator configured to produce one or more lighting, vibration or sound effects based on one or more wireless communications received by said medium-range RF transceiver. 
     
     
       16. A dual-range wireless tracking device for wirelessly tracking a guest as part of an entertainment experience carried out within a wireless-compatible play or entertainment facility, said tracking device comprising:
 a portable body comprising one or more internal batteries and associated electronics configured to power and operate said tracking device; 
 non-volatile memory for storing at least one unique identifier that uniquely identifies said guest as a trackable object within said wireless-compatible play or entertainment facility when said guest is using, wearing or carrying said tracking device; 
 a wirelessly-powered short-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a first wireless-compatible device over a limited communication range of less than 60 cm and wherein said short-range wireless communication includes a first selection of guest-specific information relevant to said entertainment experience; and 
 a battery-powered medium-range transmitter configured to provide medium-range wireless communication with a second wireless-compatible device over a communication range greater than 10 feet and wherein said medium-range wireless communication includes a second selection of guest-specific information relevant to said entertainment experience. 
 
     
     
       17. The tracking device of  claim 16 , wherein said portable body comprises a housing shaped in the form of a toy wand and further comprising motion- or position-sensitive circuitry configured to enable said toy wand to be operated by said guest at least in part by moving said portable body in free space to wirelessly activate or control one or more effects associated with said entertainment experience. 
     
     
       18. The tracking device of  claim 16 , wherein said short-range RF transceiver is configured to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with said first wireless-compatible device over a limited communication range of less than 25 cm and wherein said short-range two-way wireless communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling. 
     
     
       19. The tracking device of  claim 16 , wherein said short-range RF transceiver is configured such that when said guest selectively causes said tracking device to come within said limited wireless communication range of said first wireless-compatible device, said short-range RF transceiver wirelessly transmits said first selection of guest-specific information to said first wireless-compatible device and wherein said first selection of guest-specific information includes said at least one unique identifier. 
     
     
       20. The tracking device of  claim 16 , wherein said short-range RF transceiver comprises at least one antenna configured to be wirelessly energized through inductive coupling with an external electromagnetic field and to thereby power said short-range RF transceiver when said guest selectively causes said tracking device to come within said limited wireless communication range of said first wireless-compatible device. 
     
     
       21. The tracking device of  claim 16 , wherein said first or second selection of guest-specific information comprises one or more items of information selected from the following group: said at least one unique identifier, a tracking identifier unique to said tracking device, selected guest identification information, the name of said guest, the age of said guest, the rank or level of said guest within a game played using said tracking device, points accumulated by said guest in said game, tasks completed by said guest in said game, attributes of a game character played by said guest in said game, and facilities visited by said guest. 
     
     
       22. The tracking device of  claim 16 , further comprising programmable memory configured to store information relevant to said guest or to said entertainment experience.